Theater Review: 'The Drowsy Chaperone' by WAMS Theatre Dept.

Review by Naugatuck/Bethwood Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis

The Waterbury Arts Magnet School Theatre Department presented a fun production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” this weekend on their proscenium stage, Waterbury’s Palace Theater.

The music and lyrics for this delightful show are by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, with a book by Bob Martin and Don McKeller.

The students in the cast, all of them multi-talented, were directed by Tyler Caisse, with student director Quinn Soulliere. Musical direction was by WAMS choral teacher Marianna Vagnini, who conducted the fourteen musicians in the pit, a mix of current WAMS students, an alum and many seasoned musicians.

It is always such a joy to watch the multi-talented students that were lucky enough to get into the celebrated arts magnet school that accepts applicants from Waterbury and several surrounding towns. They consistently rehearse their shows with dedication and heart.

Kieran Smith gave a wonderful performance as “Man in Chair,” the character who is feeling “blue” and shares the LP of one of his favorite musicals with the audience, offering running commentary on its silliness and its highlights. Smith made the most of the comedic elements of his character.

“Oh, I never read reviews…” - Mrs. Tottendale

Geno Bascetta (“Who’s in the Haunted House” at 7A) was perfectly cast in the role of the bridegroom Robert. Not only did he have to roller skate while blindfolded, he had to exude charm throughout the show. Bascetta can truly do it all. John Rush, Bascetta’s castmate in the Halloween shot at 7A, managed to shine in the role of the best man George (“George’s Triumph.”) I was like a proud mom every time these two young performers took to the stage.

Billie Labriola slayed the role of the bride, Janet. It was a joy to watch and listen to her perform the complicated “Show Off” and the completely silly “Bride’s Lament.” Labriola is the true triple threat with a wonderful singing voice.

Erica Dessalines also showed off her great singing voice in the title role of the chaperone, who is drowsy as a result of liberal amounts of (prohibited) alcohol. Noah Gomez, with the perfect white stripe in his hair, chews the scenery in the loud role of “I Am Aldolpho.” Maddy Meeker, who notably was the Janet understudy, was a delight as the ditzy lady of the house, Mrs. Tottendale and she interacted wonderfully with the dry wit of Underling, played well by Jahiem Moaze.

Connor Marshall got to play the producer Feldzieg and Angelica Arroyo-Rodriguez was his girlfriend Kitty. Nailah Walker appeared as the aviatrix named Trix. Ian Schultz and Sadie Rodriguez were a wonderfully comedic duo as the two gangsters disguised as pastry chefs for "Toledo Surprise."

Zenobia Hernandez appeared briefly as the superintendent of the Man’s building and Molly Crossley (Mrs. T and Trix understudy) and Hanalei Cocchiola appeared as reporters.

The dancers that made up the mansion staff included Dane Guerrera, Adelaide Luchun, Amanda Miceli, Camila Reyes (“Who’s in the Haunted House?” at 7A and the Chaperone understudy,) Vera, Therrien, Donovan Wade and Lina Warner.

The wedding guests included Jameer Chambers, Aliza Cocchiola, Crossley, Sierra Magnavice, Jeila-Luz Morales, Arielle Parker, Ella Perrotti and Lily Tranquillo (“Haunted House?”)

The young wedding guests included underclass students Grace Denihan (in her WAMS debut,) Maddie Lund, Sophia Nguyen, Faith Pettaway and Emily Slay.

The setting for the musical within a show is the Tottendale Mansion in 1926, while Man in Chair resides in a New York City apartment in the late nineties. The set design reflects both locations well, with the requisite refrigerator through which cast members make their entrance. The scenic builder was Jaison Rossi and the magnet school’s stagecraft classes.

I found the production number "I Do, I Do In The Sky" to be very well-staged, as was "Message From A Nightingale," the one joke number that opens the second act and is sometime eliminated.

The musical numbers that compliment the story have cheeky titles like Robert and George’s “Cold Feets,” Robert (on roller skates) and Janet’s “Accident Waiting to Happen,” the Chaperone’s “As We Stumble Along” and Mrs. Tottendale’s “Love is Always Lovely in the End.” Cheyenne Walent worked as the rehearsal coach.

The choreography was designed by Caisse and Sadie Rodriguez, and the delightful tap choreography is credited to Brittany Biolo and Macee Berry.

Many in the audience came to the railing of the traditional sunken pit area to recognize the musicians after their final note was played. Kudos to the WAMS students Emma Benarz, Alex Johnson and Brendell Kelly on reeds, as well as Tyler Ellis on percussion and WAMS alum Clio “CJ” Janis on keyboard 2. And a shout out to the production stage manager Alexander Effes for keeping everything straight.

Congratulations to the WAMS students and the adults who worked with them to bring this big show to the Palace stage.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.